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Specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one unit of mass by one degree Celsius.
Molar heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one mole of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is calculated by dividing the heat energy absorbed by the substance by the number of moles of the substance present.
For example, the specific heat of water is 4.18 J/g°C, which means that it takes 4.18 joules of energy to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. The molar heat capacity of water is 75.3 J/mol°C, which means that it takes 75.3 joules of energy to raise the temperature of one mole of water by one degree Celsius.
The specific heat and molar heat capacity of a substance are important in understanding its thermal properties. For instance, substances with high specific heat and molar heat capacity, like water, are able to absorb and release large amounts of heat energy without experiencing large changes in temperature. This is why water is often used as a coolant in industrial processes and in the human body to regulate temperature.
In summary, specific heat and molar heat capacity are measures of a substance's ability to absorb and release heat energy. They are important in understanding the thermal properties of substances and their applications in various fields.
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